IEP fun

[Guest guest]

It has been a while since I have posted, life has been real difficult here in

our home this winter. And now to add to our " fun " it is IEP time and things

this year have not gone as well as in the past with our school. Mahrya made the

transition to middle school this year. We had a great IEP written last April

for this school year. the problem is I don't know that Mahrya's special ed

teacher ever got familiar with it. The first few weeks of the school year the

assignments given were not modified at all. (Mahrya really does need modified

work) I let it go for a while thinking maybe the teacher wanted to see Mahrya's

capabilities are. I ended up calling and things got a bit better for a while.

Then it began again, not following the IEP at all. Anyway, we were told we

could modify her work at home if we felt what they were giving was not

appropriate. I was not comfortable with this arrangement, thinking perhaps the

sp ed teacher is the one to madify the owrk and also I did not want to battle

Mahrya with homework issues. If she knew I could sign off on work she would try

and get out of more. I feel if the work comes home she should do it. Fast

forward to this spring. We have been dealing with my husbands diagnosis of

cancer, a rare lymphoma that we have been traveling to Mayo clinic to have

treated. While we were gone our older daughter, who was staying with our

younger two kids got a phone call from the sp ed teacher. She wanted to renew

our current IEP for next year...just leave it the same. When I got home and was

informed of this I was not a happy camper. I called and left a msg on her phone

to the effect of No, we need a face to face IEP. Then I pulled out her old one

and realized what was going on, it was a few days until out current IEP was to

expire and she needed a new one in place fast. Now, we were not out of town

more than a couple days, the teacher had just let it slide. I did agree to

renew the current one with the understanding that we would have a new meeting to

create a new IEP very soon. She was to call me the Tuesday after Easter break

to set something up. Well, that was a little over a week ago and no phone call.

So I called the head Special ed person at the school district this morning and

told her we needed an IEP meeting. She contacted the teacher and we will have a

meeting next week. I did request that the head sp ed person be there so

everyone is on the same page. I don't like to cause problems, but I will do

what it takes to make sure we have a better year next year in school. Anyway, I

know this has gotten long, just needed to vent. My plate is full enough with

all that is going on with my husband, I really wish we did not have to do this

battle as well. Thanks for listening!

Luanne mom to Mahrya 12 mds, Ben 14, Alan 20, Sandy 22, Steve 24, and Dan 26